The Brooklyn Law School Library has online subscriptions to two Thomson Reuters databases, Web of Science and Journal Citation Reports (JCR), that together provide valuable information for faculty members working toward promotion and tenure. Both databases contain information that can help assess the impact of a particular author, article, or periodical. The datebases are accessible on campus via the Library’s A-Z List of databases.

Web of Science is an online citation index that will lead to books, academic journals, and other literature that have cited to a particular work. Researchers can obtain literature showing the greatest impact in a field, or more than one discipline. For example, a paper’s influence can be determined by linking to all the papers that have cited it. In this way, researchers can assess current trends, patterns, and emerging fields of research. Web of Science has indexing coverage from the year 1900 to the present. A Thomson Reuters tutorial for Web of Science is available at this link.

JCR allows researchers to evaluate and compare journals using citation data drawn from over 7,500 scholarly and technical journals from more than 3,300 publishers in over 60 countries. It is the only source of citation data on journals, and includes virtually all areas of science, technology, and social sciences. A tutorial for using JCR is at this link. Journal Citation Reports will help the researcher identify the:

• Most frequently cited journals in a field
• Highest impact journals in a field
• Largest journals in a field

Citation and article counts are important indicators of how frequently current researchers are using individual journals. By tabulating and aggregating citation and article counts, JCR offers a unique perspective for journal evaluation and comparison.

These databases provide valuable information for students beginning research in a particular discipline or area of research. The databases do have limitations as not every journal that is published is listed in JCR. Together they provide a great deal of valuable information for both the new researcher and the more experienced faculty member applying for tenure.

The Brooklyn Law School Library has in its collection Serving the Public: A Job Search Guide (Harvard Law School’s Handbook & Directory for Law Students and Lawyers Seek Public Service Work) (Call #KF299.P8 P83) in the Main collection. Volume 2 of this annual publication is dedicated to International work. It describes working in IGOs, NGOs, and in foreign government settings and provides advice and information on required skills, salary ranges, internship and volunteer opportunities. It also lists fellowships and grants and includes a directory of NGO, IGO, and governmental employers. It also includes information on law school summer employment opportunities.

The International Law Students Association (ILSA) has Chapter Program Grants on this link. The American Society of International Law has a web page on Fellowship and Research opportunities. The ABA Section on International Law has the Rona R. Mears Student Writing Competition & Scholarship Awards with a January 2011 deadline. The New York State Bar Assciation has the Albert S. Pergam International Law Writing Competition Award with a December 2010 deadline for a $2000 prize. There are others. Searching for law student scholarships involves creativity and work. Think broadly while looking for scholarships. Feel free speak to a reference librarian at the ref desk for more information.